Ok…it has been a while since I’ve added a post, so I suppose I can’t complain about the lack of comments on the blog. What a wild start to the new year. First, I broke a rib, then Arik, my son, had knee surgery, Finally, Mike, my husband, had a detached retina that required surgery. Then there is the school stuff! We are getting ready for the state test, PAWS, which is given in March.
I’ve been spending more time with student groups in the elementary school. I have really missed being with kids so this is great for me. It is also giving me insight into what it is like for teachers that have multiple grades in the same day. I’ve always had a reqular education classroom, so in the elementary, I had the same kids all day. Now I have second graders, then 4th graders, next 3rd graders…you get the idea. I’m having to be very organized and prepared in advanced. I also need to stay flexible, because the needs of the kids and the teachers change frequently, so my group plans change, too. I love it!
I’ve also been working on learning about new technology tools. I’ll be posting some of them on my wiki…so if you read this, check it out, too. Frequently I hear about some interesting ideas from other teachers that use new technology or websites. I send out emails, and add posts to Twitter and Facebook, but I think I should start using my wiki to help keep teachers informed. Keep checking it to find out about new resources!
I was lucky enough to spend Thanksgiving with my brother and his wife in Colorado Springs last week. We had a wonderful meal and it was great to spend a few days together catching up. I grew up south of Colorado Springs, so visiting there is like going home for me…or it used to be. Recently I’ve been struck by how different things are now from what I remember. I’m sure part of it is my age…but Colorado Springs has really grown since the 1970s. I remember when it was a city of about 150,000. Now it is half a million!
While visiting, I realized how lucky I am to live and work here in a small town. Yes, I do without some of the shopping that can be done in a larger city. That’s ok. I plan shopping trips. Here I’m able to work in schools where the teachers really know the students; not just recognize the name. I work with people that spend countless extra hours doing everything they can to help all the kids they work with be successful. They don’t complain about it…They just do it because they care about the kids. I work with people who are willing to learn something new and try something different because it might be the key that one child needs for success in reading or math or writing.
My sister-in-law is a special education teacher at a school in Colorado Springs. Her kids are there because they have been unable to make it in a regular public school. The public schools have given up on them and many of these kids are on their last chance at an education. Most are in gangs. Many have had legal problems. She tells me how hard she tries to convince these kids that someone really does care about them. The problem is, they’ve been told the opposite for years. I’m so glad I don’t live in a place like that. I’m so glad to be part of this school district.
I have been working with some fifth graders for about a week. We’ve been working in small groups learning about decimal place value. I’ve really been trying to keep it hands on and very visual for the kids. We started by making a symmetry chart to show the relationship between the whole number values and the decimal values. We talked about the opposites and the symmetry. The kids were surprised by some of the patterns. I don’t think even the advanced kids had taken the time to stop and look at the patterns in the place values.
Next we moved on to using a place value chart and some decimal place value tiles I have. I had students create different numbers using the place value chart and the tiles. After they had created a couple and knew what they were doing, I had them make a number that involved hundredths. When they had put the tiles in the correct places, I added a zero in the thousandths place and asked if I changed the value. Some said yes, some said no, some said maybe. So I had them look at the place value chart and fix it to be the new number. That is when they knew it didn’t change the value. After that we tried adding zeros in different places in decimals and whole numbers. They came up with the idea that if they didn’t have to change the chart; the zero didn’t change the value. If they had to change the chart; it did change the value.
The best part of the whole thing was hearing one little girl say, “I’m really learning something here!” Another great thing was having the groups meet a couple of days later and all the kids could confidently tell me if I changed the value of the numbers or not. They were positive! It was really fun. I love it when the light bulb goes on for kids!
Now – someone else share a good teaching moment!
I just read an article about a high school in Michigan that is piloting having each student and teacher have an IPod Touch. The problem I had with the idea was that many of the teachers had no idea what to do with them or how to use them to enhance education. I did find out that Kathy Schrock is working with the teachers piloting the IPods. That is a really great thing. She has some wonderful websites and blogs about using technology in the classroom. I’m sure she’ll come up with some great ways to use them. In fact, she’s already working on it. Check her blog. I’m still concerned about the other teachers though. While students will enjoy the “coolness” of having an IPod Touch, (I’d love to have one) I don’t think that is an educationally sound reason to include something in the classroom.
So…What are some great ways to use the IPod Touch in the classroom – or any IPod? Should every student and teacher have one?
Well, now I understand how the students feel when teachers tell them to write a paper about anything they want to write about. Easier said than done! Thoughts run through my head…then I wonder who would want to read them, so I don’t write them down. I probably would still have a blank blog, but Terry posted his comment last night, so now I’m motivated to at least have something.
How do others do it? How do you write something other people will want to read? How do you come up with good ideas for topics of blogs? Since this is going to be linked to my school website, I’d like it to be really good, interesting, professional…you get the idea. I’m just not sure about finding topics teachers and others will care to read. I’d love any suggestions – ideas – input. Share some ideas!